Detailed sheet

apatite

This is the most common phosphate found in nature, its name comes from the Greek “apatein” to deceive, referring to the long confusions made by Werner between this stone and emerald. This is the main constituent of bones and teeth in its hydroxylapatite form. It is found in both metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.
It is a calcium phosphate containing chlorine, fluorine and OH ions. According to the dominance of these three components is can be called fluorapatite, chlorapatite and hydroxyapatite .
There are also yellow varieties with a glistening phenomena



CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Ca5[PO4]3(F,Cl,OH)

basic calcium phosphate



PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Main color

yellow

Other colors

white, blue, grey, colourless, pink, green, purple

The

Color of streak

white, grey, yellow

Luster

vitreous

Hardness

5.0 to 0.0

Density

3.15 to 3.23

Cleavage

indistinct

Fracture

conchoidal



OPTICAL PROPERTIES

Transparency

translucent, transparent

Refractive index

1.628 - 1.650

Double refraction

0.002

very light, negative uniaxial

visible double refraction

No

Dispersion

0.013(0.010)

Pleochroism

variable

Number of colors

2

weak for yellow and green apatite: yellow to yellow-green, yellow to green. Strong pleochroism for some blue apatites: colorless-yellow, blue.

Absorption spectrum

585 - 577

For the blue apatite: bands at 512, 507, 491

yellow apatite spectrum system

green blue apatite spectrum system

yellow apatite spectrum system

Fluorescence

variable

yellow to lilac

Inclusions

small parallel channels that can cause glistening like a "cat eye".



CRYSTALS PROPERTIES

thick and tabular, prismatic depending on the deposits

crystals system

hexagonal



OTHER INFORMATIONS

Astrological sign

Pisces, Virgo

Exploited
sites

Among the most notorious areas for their crystals are included : Minas Gerais (Brazil), Panasqueira (Portugal), Durango (Mexico), Greenwood (USA), the Zillerthal (Austria), Greenville (Canada) and even Burma, South Africa, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Norway, Pakistan, France … This is the benchmark of five hardness in the Mohs scale

use in jewelry

Limited use because of its fragility, its low hardness (it scratches easily) and its sensitivity to acids. Nevertheless it is used for pendants in its most sustained colors, especially in its blue variety “Paraiba” or “neon blue” from Madagascar to the dark blues and Tanzania to the clear blue.

Daily care
and precautions

Never put in contact with acids, lemon, vinegar etc. … cleaning of pendants with water and rinsing with alcohol.

imitations and
treatments

There are synthetic apatites which are marketed but they are mostly colored glasses that are used to trick tourists.

Historical
healing properties

The blue or green apatite, the most common, a very bright gem in its variety, should be the chakra of the Heart … it would relieve the consequences of thwarted love, spur the recovery of selfness.
Applied to the Throat chakra would eventually reduce hoarseness and facilitate speech. On the Third Eye chakra, would reinforce extra-sensory abilities, stimulate hearing and therefore improve our ability to actively listen, soothe emotions and allow to express ourselves better.
The blue apatite is a vibratory amplifier that would help other stones to fully express themselves.

Other
Gems

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